Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, will be recognized with the conferral of an honorary doctor of theology degree and be the principal speaker at the 167th annual commencement of Saint Vincent College, it was announced by Saint Vincent College President Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B. More than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees will be awarded at the Saturday, May 11, ceremony which begins at 2 p.m. in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.

A native of Pittsburgh who served as bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh for 18 years, Cardinal Wuerl is known for his teaching ministry and is involved nationally and internationally in education, health care and social service organizations.

Cardinal Wuerl hosted Pope Benedict XVI in Washington in April 2008 on the Holy Father’s historic journey to the United States. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Relator General for the October 2012 Vatican Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.

He serves on numerous national and international bodies and is chairman of the board of trustees of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, chancellor of The Catholic University of America and chairman of the board of both the Pope John Paul II Cultural Foundation and The Papal Foundation.

He serves on the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Clergy, the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, the Pontifical Council for Culture and is former chairman of numerous committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including the Committee on Doctrine, and is a member of the USCCB committee on evangelization and catechesis and the ad hoc committee for religious liberty.

His commitment to the education of children and youth of all race, color and creed was demonstrated in his revitalization of the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the establishment of the nationally-recognized Extra Mile Education Foundation whose purpose is to provide sound educational opportunities in inner-city Catholic schools for economically disadvantaged children. He is widely known as the “education bishop” for his ongoing work as a teacher and educator and was recognized with the prestigious St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award by the National Catholic Educational Association.

Cardinal Wuerl is the author of numerous articles and books, including the best-selling catechisms, The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way. His recent books include, The Mass (2011), Seek First the Kingdom (2012), Faith That Transforms Us: Reflections on the Creed (January 2013), New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Faith Today (January 2013) and The Church (March 2013).

He holds earned graduate degrees from The Catholic University of America, the Gregorian University, earned while attending the North American College in Rome, and a doctorate in theology from the University of Saint Thomas in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 17, 1966, and ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II on Jan. 6, 1986, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He served as Auxiliary Bishop in Seattle until 1987 and then as Bishop of Pittsburgh for 18 years until his appointment to Washington. His titular church in Rome is Saint Peter in Chains.